First...Happy New Year to everyone
As the 2006 comes, I want to change my current system. Currently, I'm using Gigabyte 8I915PL-G with Pentium 4 2.66 GhZ (no HT) running on 3.4 with 1 gigs (2x512Mb) running at 2.5-3-3-6. Max temperature is 55 degree on 100 % load. I tested using Prime 95 for three hours and it runs stable.

I don't do a lot of gaming. Only play NBA Live 2006 as I only love basketball game and prefer to play RPG on PS2 but I do a lot of 3D rendering using Maxon Cinema 4D as 3D is my main interest. I never tried render any animation though. I am afraid that my spec is not good enough to render animation. So, 3d modelling and still image rendering all of the time.

I am thinking of switching to AMD 64 3200+ with DFI Lan Party NF4-D or just upgrade my CPU to 3.0 Ghz that has 2 MB L2 cache because my motherboard is not capable of running dual core. Since my knowledge in system area is not sufficient enough to decide even after I read some review available on the net, I really need your advice.

Although I am an AMD fan Intel's latest offerings are not bad and you might as well save yourself buying a new mobo and get the 600 series Intel CPU. I know that AMD CPUs are generally better for gaming and have heard Intel's are better for video encoding, but I don't know if 3D rendering falls under this or not.

i second the above setup as ram will be at a premium. an intel based computer will definatly run a little better as the higher clocks encode faster. you will want at least a 3.4+ ghz cpu before overclocking just to make things easier. another thing to look at is your current case and disk setup. a couple (or more) 250-300gb hard drives make alot of heat so a new case may be in order. as for the video card any middle to high end quadro/fire gl or mid priced gaming video card will work well. just make sure its 256 or 512mb. good luck man

I attached Everest benchmark of my current system. It is running on 1.32 Vcore and 2.86 Vdimm.

This is what Cinebench showed me:

Rendering (1xCPU) = 102 second (257 CB-CPU)

Cinebench Rendering result almost reach the same level as Pentium D 1xCPU rendering test and according to a review (forgot which site ), Cinebench detect HT as multiple CPU.

I am not sure that my CPU will still alive within the next 6 months as I overclocked it as many as 28 % (original: 133 Mhz; Current: 170 Mhz). Daily, it runs at 37 degree celcius during idle. It jumps to 58 degree celcius during full load. That's why I am thinking of replacement.

wait for the 900 series to come out, and buy a P5WDG2-WS or whatever its called, the 975X chipset.

Click to expand...

Woow....another new chipset.... Now I'm thinking to switch to AMD even more especially I just read that even 3ds max run better on AMD plus I don't need to buy new DDR2, which will make me spend more, and AMD dual core x2 3800+ run much faster compare to 4800 even the 4800 is OCed (according to a review).